Julian Smith, a businessman and surveyor in Selma, built Ashford from 1899-1903. This two-and-one-half story Neo-Classical designed house is constructed of brick with rough-cut stone. Thirty white columns surround the home on the outside and seven colu …

This is a 2-story brick slave quarters that was built by Stephen Barker in 1860 behind his large brick mansion. The building originally had no columns. After the Civil War, Confederate veteran, Samuel McGurdy Kirkpatrick and his wife, Sarah, purchased …

Built by Dr. John A. McKinnon circa 1880, this house takes its name from the Berry family who was a longtime resident. The grillwork on this house is exceptional and was made in Selma’s foundry. The pioneering female photographer, Frances Benjamin John …

This small cottage sits on the edge of a bluff above the Alabama River on Water Avenue in downtown Selma. It is located next to the historic St. James Hotel. The Bridge Tender’s House is a contributing property to the Water Avenue Historic District tha …

Brown Chapel AME Church, with its imposing twin towers and Romanesque Revival styling, was built in 1908 by black builder – of whom little is known – A.J. Farley. This church and its congregation played a major role in the events that led to the adopti …

This neo-classic mansion was built in 1898. This home was visited frequently by F. Scott & Zelda Fitzgerald (Fitzgerald authored “The Great Gatsby” among other American classics). In 1983, the third floor burned while being restored. Since then, i …

Built prior to 1847, this is a two-story, Italianate home that has a full-height porch with front gable. Exterior features of the house include bay windows with a flat-cut balustrade on the first floor and second-story windows with trimmed hoods and ba …

Heritage Village at Selma is the site of several 1800’s structures that were donated to the Selma-Dallas County Historic Preservation Society by private individuals. Shown is the James M. Calhoun Law Office that’s located at Heritage Village. This is a …

Carlowville is a small community in southern Dallas County. Shown is the Carlowville Baptist Church. Local tradition attributes the design of this two-story church to the first pastor, Dr. Jessie Hartwell, a New Englander. The Baptist congregation orga …

This church is located west of Safford, AL on Dallas CR 66 approximately 2.8miles from the intersection of CR 66 and Ala Hwy 5 (GPS coordinates 32.284940, -87.437781). According to a sign located beside CR 66, the church was established in 1861. Attach …

Methodists were the first denomination to organize in Selma and the only church remaining on the original plot of ground assigned to by the Selma Land Company. In 1835, the Methodists organized with 12 members in a wooden church at the corner of Dallas …

Also referred to as the Cochran-Crumpton House, Crumptonia, and the McCreary House, this 2-story Greek Revival style home was built circa 1855 for South Carolina-born, Claudius M. Cochran. It was later owned by the Crumpton family and it became part of …

About This Website

Welcome to rural southwest Alabama. This website is dedicated to twelve counties located in rural southwest Alabama which includes a large portion of Alabama's Black Belt area. This region is known for its rich and diverse heritage, historic homes and churches, and natural beauty. This website contains details about historic and interesting places that you will find in this area of Alabama.

PLEASE NOTE THAT MOST OF THE HOMES INCLUDED ARE PRIVATE RESIDENCES AND, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ARE DRIVE BY ONLY.